Celtics support former teammate Jason Collins

The veteran center, who played 32 games for the Celtics this season before being traded, announced on Monday that he is gay.

By Jim Fenton

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Jim Fenton

Posted Apr. 30, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 30, 2013 at 11:21 AM

By Jim Fenton

Posted Apr. 30, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 30, 2013 at 11:21 AM

WALTHAM

» Social News

He spent roughly four months with the Celtics this season, averaging only 10 minutes in 32 games.

Veteran center Jason Collins made quite an impression on his teammates and the coaching staff in that brief time, though, because of his professionalism and work ethic.

Those same ex-teammates and former coaches threw their support behind Collins on Tuesday, one day after he became the first active major professional sports athlete to acknowledge he is gay.

“I’m happy for him,’’ said guard Jason Terry before practice. “It looks like he’s had a huge, tremendous weight lifted off of him. That’s all you can ask for any man or woman is to be at peace with themselves. Then you can find that ultimate happiness.

“Being a teammate of his, I knew how hard he worked, how dedicated he is to his craft. He’s a great teammate, regardless of his sexual preference. It didn’t matter to me. I liked him as a guy, as a teammate and I still do.’’

Said Jeff Green: “I’m truly happy for him, and I’m glad he’s happy. He’s a good friend of mine. He’s a great teammate. Like (coach) Doc (Rivers) said, he’s a pro’s pro. He led by example. He showed me what it takes to be a pro.’’

Collins informed Rivers of his decision to come out a few days ago and also called Paul Pierce on Monday morning, not long before the Sports Illustrated story was released.

Rivers said he told Collins “it’ll be a non-issue eventually, but it will not be right now.

“I don’t know if I was surprised or didn’t care one way or another,’’ said Rivers. “When he called me to tell me, you can tell he wanted to tell me, I told him before he said it, ‘Jason, I could care less about what you’re about to tell me.’

“That’s how I honestly feel. I could care less what any of you guys do. Who cares? It’s just a non-factor to me and I know it is a factor to a lot of people and I never understood why.

“He told me he was coming out and I said, ‘Great, let’s move forward’ and I jokingly said, ‘I wish you could have gotten me more rebounds. That’s all I care about really.’’’

Pierce said the announcement by Collins, who was traded in February to the Washington Wizards, will probably lead to more athletes revealing that they are gay.

“I think it’s probably going to open the door to many more,’’ said Pierce. “There’s so many professional athletes, so many human beings that live a dark life. They’re scared to expose it because of the exposure of sports and what people might think about them.

Page 2 of 2 - “But I think what he did what a great thing to open the door for other athletes who now will have the courage to come out.’’